Life-saving gear



, o. H. DRAGER ET AL- 1,878,474

LIFE SAVING GEAR Sept. 20, 1932.

Filed Karen 28'. 1929 Ratentecl Sept. 20, 1932 stirrer STATES PATENT oFFicE OTTO HEINRICH BERGER AND HERMANN STELZNER, 0F LUBEGK, GERMANY; SAID STELZNER ASSIG'NOR TO SAID DRBGER LIFE-SAVING GEAR Application filed March 28, 1929, Serial No. 350,743, and in Germany December 20, 1928.

To enable the occupants of sunken submarine boats or diving bells to escape or emerge to the surface of the water, it has been proposed to provide life saving gear or appliance which consist of a buoyant body end of a respiratory apparatus. The present invent-ion refers to life saving gear of the kind mentioned, based on the idea of constructing the breathing bag ofthe respiratory apparatus in such manner that on the wearer coming to the surface of the water it may be used as a life or swimming belt.

An example of a construction of apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a front View of the apparatus;

Figure 2 a side View; and

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate details.

The breathing bag a consists of an annular hollow, hoselike body of a water-proof elastic or flexible material. It isfiexed over the shoulders and, looking from the front, is rooflike shaped in cross section (in the plane of the face of the wearer). A hollow body constructed in this manner'will fit snugly against the shoulders, the back and the chest.

At the front as well as at the back there are provided fabric tabs or flaps 6, b preferably of triangular shape, mounted on the base plate of the breathing bag and serving for the attachment of the riding orsecuring belt 0. On fitting the apparatus to the body this belt is drawn between the legs and buckled, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The breathing bag will snugly fit to the shoulders, and be maintained in the wearer is in the water. The firm and snug fit of the annular breathing bag is a necessity in order to secure the same pressure within the breathing bag as within the lungs. If, for instance, the bag is liable to lift up from the body, which will be possible if it is not roof-shaped on the shoulders. or if the riding belt is not firm, the air within the bag would be situated higher than the cheeks, and thus would make the breathing more difficult. The snug fitting of the bag on the shoulder is such that the pressure of the water against the bag and the lungs remains within proper limits for normal breathing, so that neither this position even if inhaling nor exhaling is rendered difiicult, and at the same time a high vertical swimming position on the surface of the water is secured.

The size of the opening of the annular breathing bag is such, that the head of the wearer may pass easily therethrough, and moreover, such that there is sufiicient accommodation for the breathing hose of the respiratory apparatus, and finally such that displacement of the annular bag is permitted towards the front or the rear by a pull on he riding belt, depending on whether the wearer wants to rest on the surface of the water while on theback or to move about as in swimming.

The respiratory apparatus may comprise in addition to the annular breathing bag a, a sodium peroxide cartridge (Z, for instance, preferably placed in a pocket-like portion or chamber, and a breathing hose 0 having a mouth-piece f and a controlcock g. The breathing hose is screwed to the breathing bag by a thread and counter-thread in such manner, that the end of the hose for connec tion to the cartridge pro ects into the bag.

The wearer exhales into the bag by the mouth-pieee, the hose and cartridge, and inhales through the same parts in the opposite direction, so that a to and fro breathing action takes place. The nose may be closed by the usual nose pincher h. The sodium peroxide develops oxygen, when subjected to the action of carbonic acid and water vapour, which the wearer exhales. v

The cartridge may be inserted and removed or renewed through an opening in the front of the breathing bag, adapted to be closed. lVith this object in VlOW the breathing bag is provided with a hollow projection '1', which at its lower end is provided with a rapid closure device. The walls of the hollow prois adapted to push over said angle-plates the lips exerting such a pressure against the angle-plates that a tight closure is secured. The webs on the angle-plates prevent free sliding-off of the U-shaped cover downwardly. Such a device replaces screw rails, the handling of which is tedious, and also avoids holes in the joint surfaces.

A safety valve m is mounted on the breathing bag, permitting air to escape on the bag being blown up. Means may be provided to render the safety valve inoperative when after reaching the surface of the water the breathing bag is made use of as a swimming or life-belt. A helically bent wire at extending from the outlet opening of the cartridge on both sides within the breathing bag up to the shoulders, enables breathing, even when there is only a slight amount of air due to the pressure of the waterhaving expelled the air from the lower portion of the bag.

To enable the breathing bag. to be used simply as a. swimming or life-belt under the shoulders (or under the arms) it may be divided at the rear. The two ends thus formed are brought together and connected with one another by means of a band 0 of canvas or the like. Before being used in this manner, the band 0 is folded and the folds held together, for instance by a snap-fastener or press stud or the like, so that the ends of the breathing'bag are maintained in contact with one another.

The rear triangular tab or flap b may be bifurcated, so that when the valve m is opened the tab or flap may spread, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure 5.

The improved life-saving gear besides being adapted for use as a life-belt has the advantage that it may be quickly and easily fitted to the body.

We claim 1. A life preserving and breathing device, comprising an annular breathing bag adapted to be secured to the body of a wearer around the shoulders, respiratory apparatus secured to said bag in a water tight connection, said bag having a hollow projection open at its lower end and adapted to be closed by a cover engaging angle-plates on said projection, whereby an air regenerating cartridge may be inserted in said bag.

2-. A device as described in laim l, including means for adjusting the position of the breathing bag to regulate the position of the wearer in the water. 3. A device as described in claim 1, including means within the breathing bag to pre vent water pressure from stopping the respiratory apparatus.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

OTTO HEINRICH DRAGER. HERMANN STELZNER. 

